Welcoming LGBTQ+ stickers launched at Lumiere
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Lumiere is the first venue in Romford to be a part of Kaleidoscope’s legacy project!
Over the past six months, the local LGBTQ+ community have been meeting as part of the project Scope Out to co-design stickers to place in shop windows across Havering.
Kaleidoscope aimed to make Romford more colourful and inviting by placing small, welcoming stickers in shop windows, indicating that the LGBTQ+ community are safe here. This is accompanied by a pamphlet for businesses to spot and act on homophobic incidents.
To strengthen the connection within the local LGBTQ+ community, Scope Out consisted of five different activities to enjoy experiences often only found in central London. These were Drag Karaoke led by Chamonix Aspen, Creative Expression, a workshop inviting participants to express their emotions through creativity, focusing on mental well-being, Climbing session at Romford Rock and Boulder, History vision workshop, a creative session exploring LGBTQ+ history and ended with the final Stickers and Pamphlet design workshop. The design of the stickers was narrowed down to key elements that should be included. The NO Collective took these designs and presented a finalised design. One important design feature was to create variations of the stickers across Havering. Harold Hill, Hornchurch, Rainham, Romford and Upminster all have a unique sticker design.
Scope Out hosted a launch party at Lumiere to celebrate the first sticker being placed in the window of Lumiere. As a venue that has supported Kaleidoscope with many different events, including the East London LGBTQ+ Film Festival, Lumiere is home to Kaleidoscope. Organiser Carrie Kendall said, ‘It felt important to unveil the first sticker here as Lumiere have been incredibly supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. These stickers might not mean a lot to someone who isn’t LGBTQ+, but will make a big difference to the local LGBTQ+ community’
The stickers weredescribed as ‘something very important for us and the town’ by someone who attended Scope Out.
About Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope was set up in 2022 when local members were tired of not having a flourishing LGBTQ+ scene in Romford, and feeling like support and advice wasn’t available when they needed it.
Kaleidoscope has held several larger scale events in the town centre. So far it has hosted three Pride events in the town centre with feedback being ‘inclusive, empowering, meaningful, secure, and liberating’. The East London LGBTQ+ Film Festival began in 2023 and is a yearly large-scale event from Kaleidoscope and was organised to showcase independent and authentic LGBTQ+ cinema while raising funds for the group. This has become one of their events that is open to all ages as since establishing Kaleidoscope, facilitators have been approached by over 24s asking if there is an adult LGBTQ+ space.
About Lumiere
Located in the heart of the town, Lumiere Cinema Romford has replaced Premiere Cinemas, carrying forward a legacy of accessible, high-quality entertainment while elevating it with state-of-the-art projection, crystal-clear sound, and a hugely diverse selection of films; from the latest blockbusters to indie gems, arthouse titles and family favourites.
Screens 1, 2, 3, and 4 – will offer the latest mainstream releases from superheroes to action stars, the year’s biggest comedies, and family animations.
‘The Discovery Screen’ (Screen 5) – will specialise in independent films each and every day. Thanks to our Romford Film Festival connections, we will offer five indie movies each day that you will not find on release in any other UK cinema.
‘The Silver Screen’ (Screen 7) – where cinema of the past will be celebrated. Here you will enjoy curated seasons of films, mystery movie days, ‘Touchstone Tuesdays’ and a retro ‘Saturday Morning Pictures’ experience for young and old alike.
‘The Odyssey Screen’ (Screen 8) – here you can watch a mixture of world cinema releases, concert films, and those arthouse films that usually you would have to travel into central London to see.
At Lumiere Cinema Romford, we are more than just a cinema. We are a community hub dedicated to providing an exceptional viewing experience. Whether you’re here for a thrilling action-packed adventure, a heartfelt drama, or a family outing, our goal is to make every visit special.